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Damascus cop rescues dog trapped for days

Sampson, a black lab, had been missing since New Years

Damascus Police Officer Jerry Rippe is a hero, at least to a dog named Sampson.

Rippe rescued Sampson Jan. 6 from a steep, rocky ravine where he had been trapped about six feet down, apparently for days.

Sampson's owner, Greg Herbst, said he went missing on New Year's Day and he had been looking for him ever since. Herbst searched his neighborhood, put out flyers and posted the dog's disappearance on Facebook.

Rippe happened to be talking to someone in the Herbst family about the Facebook post when he got a call on his police radio about a man who had called about a trapped dog when he heard whimpering near the Stone Cliff Inn Restaurant in Carver.

Rippe located the ravine where the dog was trapped, took off his patrol gear, put on a helmet and knee pads and clambered down to get Sampson out.

The area is very rocky, Rippe said, and he's glad he help.

It feels really good to get the dog back to its owner, he said.

Meanwhile, Rippe Sampson is doing fine at back at home, possibly chewing on his favorite red ball.